Can opener



Sept. 17, 1929. w DE w, LAMB 1,728,569

CAN OPENER Filed NOV. 9, 1926 Wii'dlWZZZZJi/lb 3441mm for,

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 I UNITED STATES WARD DE wrr'r LAMB, or LE MARS, IowA I CAN OPENER Application filed November 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,394.-

This invention relates to can openers and aims to improve generally the construction of the can opener as shown in my Patent "Number 1,639,193, granted August 16, 1927.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the device may be cheaply constructed, the sliding blade carrying member, forming a part of the opener being such that it may be stamped from a length of sheet metal by a single stamping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for restricting the movement of the pivoted blade adjusting lever, so that the blade may not be projected too far to cause the blade support to engage the can under operation, to set up a binding action between the blade support and can.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of'a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention, the movable blade supporting member being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the opener.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a perspective view of the movable blade carrying member.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the blade actuating lever.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the knife and movable knife carrying member.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates the body portion of the can opener which has a widened portion 6 defining a handle, the opposite end of the body portion being extended rearwardly as at 7 where it supports the prong 8.

Mountedonthe body portion 5 is a mov-f able member indicated generally by the reference character 9, which may beformed by a single stamping operation and having upstanding lateral flanges 10 provided with openings 11 for the reception of the pin 12 on which the lever 13 is pivotally mounted.

Portions of the flanges 10 are bent in. wardly as clearly shown by Figure 4 and provide a hou'singfor the sliding blade support, to be hereinafter more fully described;

Downwardly extended flanges 14 are provided at the ends of the member 9, which flanges are formed without out portions 15 defining stops 16 and 17 respectively, the member 16 being designed to cooperate with the extension 18 formed at the inner end of the lever 13 to restrict outward movement thereof. c

A stop or finger 19 is stamped from the 7 lever 13 and is extended inwardly so that it may contact with the handle 6 and restrict downward movement of the lever so that it will be impossible for the operator to move the lever to such a position as to cause the forward end of the blade carrying member '20 to bind against the outer surface of the can and prevent theproper operation of the device. i l

' The flange 17 is slightly curved so that it conforms to the shape of the bead disposed around the upper edge of a can to theend that the device will be properly'held against slipping. The blade carrying member includes a length of sheet metal constructed to I provide a substantially wide portion 21 at each end thereof, and a narrow portion 22, the narrow portion 22 providing means for supporting the coiled springs 23, there being provided a pin 24 at one end of the narrow portion 22 for holding one end of the coiled spring, while the opposite end of the coiled spring contacts with the inner edges of the inwardly extended flanges forming a part of the movable member 9 as shown by Fig. ure 1.

The rotary cutter which is indicated at 25 is mounted atthe forward end of the movable blade carrying member and as shown is disposed between the wide portions 21 v thereof, the blade being of such diameter that it will extend beyond the forward end of the blade carrying member to cut the can.

In the operation of the device, the prong 8 is forced into the top of the can at a point substantially centrally thereof, and the body portion is swung downwardly until the blade and blade carrying member are opposite to the side of the can whereupon the lever 13 is operated to cause the blade carrying member to move forwardly moving the blade intoclose engagement with the can.

The device is now rotated with the result that the blade cuts the top from the can.

I claim:

1. In a can opener, elongated body portion having a prong at one end thereof, a movable member having depending flanges formed at its ends, said flanges having cut out portions to accommodate the elongated body portion, portions of the flanges being extended upwardly defining stops, one of the stops adapted to engage one edge of the can on which the opener is positioned, a blade carrying member slidable on the movable member, a lever mounted on the movable member and engaging the blade carrying member to move the blade carrying member forwardly, and a blade mounted at the forward end of the blade carrying member.

2. In a can opener, an elongated body portion, a prong the forward end of the body portion, a movable member including a main portion having upstanding flanges, inwardly extended flanges forming a part of the movable member and overlying the main portion in spaced relation therewith, a blade carrying member slidable under the flanges, means for slidably mounting the blade carrying member on the body portion, and means on the movable member for moving the blade carrying member forwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

WAR-D DE VVITT LAMB. 

